Divers left stranded in Loch Alsh drama trigger Kyle RNLI lifeboat rescue mission
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NINE divers were left stranded in the water after the boat they had dived from suffered a mechanical failure and started to drift away.
The Ross-shire drama earlier today triggered the launch of the Kyle RNLI lifeboat after the alarm was raised by the group's dive master.
Kyle lifeboat Spirit of Fred. Olsen launched at 11:55am after the Loch Alsh breakdown which left the dive master unable to pick up the group of divers who were still submerged at the time.
When the lifeboat arrived on scene two minutes after launching, a few of the divers had already surfaced and were being assisted by nearby vessels.
Three of the divers were alongside the SD Raasay, but due to the size of the vessel were unable to get onboard.
The lifeboat picked the divers out of the water and transferred them onto the larger vessel, before going to assist another member of the group who had just surfaced.
The fishing vessel Helen Bruce picked up another three divers and transferred them onto the SD Raasay, whilst the lifeboat went to search for the remaining two who were still underwater. A short while later the final members of the diving party surfaced and were picked up by the lifeboat.
Once it was established that everyone was accounted for and uninjured, the SD Raasay took some of the group back to Kyle whilst the lifeboat went to assist the stricken dive boat. The lifeboat took the RIB under tow back to Kyleakin before returning to the lifeboat station at 1:45pm.
A Kyle RNLI spokesperson said: ‘The diving party had just purchased their new dive boat and were extremely well equipped, however unfortunately they were extremely unlucky and the boat suffered a severe mechanical failure which left it completely disabled in the water. Due to the swift action of the Dive Master calling for assistance early, the entire group were all recovered quickly and safely."
